We bumblebees are under threat of extinction in the U.K. you humans can make a massive difference.
We have already lost two species and due to habitat change, the climate catastrophe and pesticides we are in danger of losing more of our twenty-four species.
What can humans do to help?
Plant more native flowers some non-native flowers are not suitable for U.K. wildlife.
Take care where you buy your flowers from, some garden centres use pesticides on their plants.
Cost effective way is to sow seeds, even better have a wildflower garden.
Grow a dandelion patch, yes dandelions! you humans can eat the leaves in salads I believe. These beautiful flowers are just like miniature suns and are one of the few flowers available that keep our queen alive whilst making her nest for us in early spring.
There is no point in planting wildflowers in one part of the garden and then using any form of bug killer in another part. We bees are far too busy to learn which flower has bug spray on and which are ok. It doesn’t matter what it says on the tin if it kills something in your garden it will have a knock-on effect on other wildlife often us bees.
There is always a way to deal with plant eaters!
For example; cabbage white caterpillars, where I live the lady sows nasturtium seeds purely for the caterpillars to eat, they prefer nasturtiums to cabbages. It’s fascinating watching the lifecycle of a butterfly, nearly as complex as ours!
Slugs and snails, the lady feeds them! yes, that’s right, she feeds them! round lettuce they much prefer them to other plants. The lettuce draws them all off the rest of the garden I believe the hedgehog appreciates them all being in one patch.
If the slug & snail population get out of hand I have watched her scoop the lot up along with the lettuce and place them in the compost heap where they work very hard making compost.
A compost heap is a must for every gardener!
Especially the wooden ones (bought or made) fill with all your garden and raw veg kitchen waste. Then put a few inches of already made compost on the top and turn them into big planters.
Don’t bother disturbing the compost underneath. Then our queens can hibernate in the compost for the winter, and may even nest in a compost heap.
Then make another one! You will end up with a garden of beautiful planters with all your hidden waste underneath teaming with wildlife.
For more ways to help us, bumblebees go to The Bumblebee Conservation Trust
Don’t forget bee and insect boxes, we are losing all the places to live, and need all the help we can get.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Do read my bedtime storybook to your children or grandchildren it’s all about my strange day it’s available
Bye
Bumble